Combine Insider: Jaguars GM must find solution at right tackle

INDIANAPOLIS — Vowing to be transparent in his new role as Jaguars general manager, Dave Caldwell was exactly that Friday at the Scouting Combine inside Lucas Oil Stadium.

Question: “If the Jaguars had to play Saturday, who would be the starting right tackle?”

Caldwell: “That’s a good question. Good thing we don’t play tomorrow.”

Indeed, the Jaguars would be in serious trouble at a lot of positions if they were forced to play this weekend.

But Caldwell confirmed what was figured since last year ended — the Jaguars need right tackle help.

Cam Bradfield had his chance but was replaced by journeyman Guy Whimper for the last two games.

One veteran said Bradfield should have been benched “months earlier,” because of poor performance, but one league source said the Jaguars’ protection scheme didn’t do the second-year player many favors, giving him little help against the league’s elite pass rushers.

Bradfield and Whimper remain under contract this year, but the team may move in a new direction.

At left tackle, Eugene Monroe is viewed by the new regime as a solid player who will be worth a second contract. The only other known is Uche Nwaneri at right guard.

That leaves left guard Will Rackley (will probably get the first shot), center Brad Meester (the guess here is he comes back on a one-year deal) and right tackle (fill in the blank).

This draft in general and the second round in particular could be the right place to find a right tackle.

The Jaguars went that route in 2009, drafting Eben Britton 39th overall. That didn’t work out.

Among the tackles likely to be on the board in the second round are Tennessee’s Dallas Thomas, Oregon’s Kyle Long, Colorado’s David Bakhtiari and Florida State’s Menelik Watson.

Caldwell was also asked about the defensive tackle situation.

“C.J. [Mosley], Tyson [Alualu] and [Jeris] Pendleton are all very capable players,” he said. “Obviously, we’re going to address every position and that would be one we’re going to address in the draft.”

The offensive and defensive lines are viewed to be strong in quantity.

“I would agree,” Caldwell said. “They’re equally strong throughout the draft, top to bottom.”

Pack back to school

Green Bay’s season ended by giving up 579 yards in a playoff loss to San Francisco and quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

“That’s a number that will stick in our focus as a defense throughout the off-season,” Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. “We’re studying the read-option and the teams that are doing it in the NFL.”

To that end, McCarthy said the Packers’ staff will host college coaches to discuss the read option and visit the Texas A&M staff.

“It’s something from an education standpoint that we’ll grow [with] as a staff and be better prepared in the future,” he said.

First mini-camp

Jaguars coach Gus Bradley said Friday he expects the first voluntary mini-camp for veterans to be held April 16-18. It will be called a “veteran orientation camp,” and held a week before the draft.

The Jaguars will also have a rookie mini-camp, and to wrap up the off-season in early June, a mandatory three-day mini-camp.

Elsewhere

Olympic gold medalist Sanya Richards-Ross and her husband, Jaguars cornerback Aaron Ross, will be starring in the reality series, “Glam & Gold,” for the WE television network. A news release said the series will focus on Richards-Ross and filming has already begun in Jacksonville and Austin, Texas. … Twenty-one defensive ends at the Combine have been asked by NFL teams to also do outside linebacker drills. That is of particular importance to the Jaguars, who are looking at both positions to improve their league-worse pass rush. … Notre Dame middle linebacker Manti Te’o is scheduled to meet the media Saturday. … The Jaguars hired Tyler Wolfe as assistant to the head coach. Wolfe played at Tennessee and was recently an assistant coach at Tennessee Tech.